Tag: the-episcopal-church

New Homily and More: The Little Ones of Christ (Part Two in the Growing Down Sermon Series)

by Derek Michael Larson, posted in Uncategorized

The audio of this week’s homily. You can find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

  1. How can I embrace a childlike faith characterized by trust, innocence, and a willingness to learn from others, especially from the children around me?
  2. What words would I use to describe young children in my life? Could I use those words to describe myself?
  3. How do I perceive the role of children in our faith community, and how can I incorporate their perspective to deepen my own spiritual journey?
  4. In what ways can I support the children in my life to grow in faith while also allowing their example to challenge and inspire my own growth as a “little one” in Christ?

Resources for Further Reflection

Comic Book: Francis: Brother of the Universe
In this genuine Marvel comic book from 1982 you can find the story of St. Francis, including his encounter with the Pope asking for recognition by the church to be a holy order. It’s a classic and a fun (and childlike) way to engage the story of Francis, even though there are many well-done biographies about him as well (in fact I have a sizable Franciscan section in my office if you’d like to borrow anything).

Religious Order: Third Order, Society of St. Francis
I belong to a religious order called the Society of St. Francis. The friars are those in the first order. The cloistered nuns are those in the second order. I belong to the third order, a dispersed Anglican order for lay people and clergy, married people and single, men, women, and all people who would like to follow Christ in a deeper way through the Franciscan path. It has been a wonderful experience that I highly recommend to anyone interested in Franciscan spirituality who wants to deepen their faith.

Children’s Book: God’s Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In the homily I speak about Jesus’ big dream, which is actually a small dream. In saying that, I am using the language of a beautiful children’s book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, called God’s Dream. I highly recommend it!

New Homily and More: Growing Down: Welcoming Christ in Children

by Derek Michael Larson, posted in Uncategorized

It’s the beginning of a new sermon series! Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Reflection

  1. In what ways do I currently prioritize the presence of children in my community, and how might I shift my perspective to recognize the lessons they can teach me?
  2. How can I create a welcoming environment that allows children to bring their own experiences of Christ into our shared community?
  3. What specific qualities or characteristics of children inspire me to reflect on my own faith journey and humility?
  4. As I think about my role in supporting children’s spiritual growth, how can I also be open to their influence on my understanding of God and faith?
  5. In what areas of my life do I feel challenged to “grow down” and embrace a more childlike perspective, particularly in my interactions with others?

Resources for Further Reflection

Movie: Mary Poppins (1964)
A classic film. If you haven’t seen it recently, watch it again! And this time notice how the film may actually be about Mr. Banks growing down rather than the children growing up.

Movie: Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
This is a rare instance when a sequel made for a classic does an incredible job. This movie honors the first while balancing a timeless feel and contemporary relevance. This is one of the Larson family’s favorite films, which we watch a few times a year. Since first seeing it, I’ve thought a lot about how Mary Poppins carries a lot of Christological characteristics in this film, particularly in the notion of returning. I’ve pondered offering a Bible study with Mary Poppins Returns as an Advent series.

Book: The Gifts they Bring: How children in the Gospels can Shape Inclusive Ministry by Amy Lindeman Allen
This is a great book by a New Testament Scholar which analyzes a select passages of Scripture with a lens focused on the presence of children. After interpreting the passage, Allen then offers some possible applications and reflections for contemporary children’s ministry. I liked the book a lot, and I used it to teach a Bible Study series once before.